Cover-releasing device.



G. G. SCHUELE.

COVER RELEASING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FH'.ED NOV. 3. 1913.

1,1 60,204. Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

GEORGE G. 'SCHUELE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

covnn-nnnnasme DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

Application flledNoveniber 3, 1918. Set-19.11%. 798,903.

pecially small cans or boxes having tightlyfitting covers, and the improvement comprises a simple and inexpensive slide-mem-v ber to eflect easy release of the cover, either by finger pressure or by engagement of the slide-member with a fixed object.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective v1ew of a round container embodying my improvement and showing one manner in which the parts may be held in the hands and engaged by the fingers for convenient removal of the cover. Fig. 2 is a side view of the container showing the cover in place and the slide member ininoperative position. Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2, but showing the cover partly released by the slide member. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the container and slide member on line 44, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a modified form of container.

In Figs. 1 to 4, the container comprises a round box 2 of thin metal and a cover 3 of the same material fitting tightly thereon. The circular wall 4 of the body of the box is inturned at its upper edge 5 to facilitate the placing of the cover thereon, and wall 4 is also shown as having a bead 5 partly about the same to limit the seating depth of the cover. The flange 6 of cover 3 is also provided with an annular bead 7 a short distance above its edge 8. In Fig. 5, the flange of the cover 9 has an inwardly-projecting bead 10 to rest on the upper edge 5 of wall 4 of the body of the box, and the bottom edge 11 of the cover is flared or turned outwardly. My improvement is applicable to either form of container as it comprises a slide member 14 secured to the outside face of wall 4 by means of one or more studs or rivets 15, said slide member comprising a relatively thin and long plate curved lengthwise to conform in shape to the circular wall 4 and bearing loosely against it for free movement circumferentially of the box and parallel with the bottom edge of the cover.

A straight slot 16 extends lengthwise of member 14 at any suitable pitch or inclinatlon relatively to the straight bottom edge of the cover, and a rounded part 18 at each end of the top edge of said member is adapted to have ,slidable engagement with the bottom surface of the bead 7 on the cover 3, Figs. 1 to 4, or with the flaring edge 11 of the cover 9, Fig. 5. If a single stud or rivet 15 is used its shank portion 19 which passes through slot 16 is preferably squared or flattened to prevent a rotative movement of slide member 14 at all times, and when said member is pressed to the left by its outwardly-bent extremity 20 the said member is forced to a higher level and the cover 3 (or 9) is lifted in a corresponding degree. The rounded parts 18 provide two widelyseparated points of bearing throughout the slidable movement of member 14, which is of advantage in equalizing and distributing the force of the movement over an extended area in a relatively thin wall.

Removal of the cover may be efl'ected by holding the box in the hands as illustrated in Fig. 1, or the cover may be removed by the use of one hand only and Without taking a finger grip on slide member 14. To practise the latter method, the box is held between the thumb and fingers of one hand and the extremity 20 of the slide member is pressed downward against any fixed object, such as the projecting edge of a table or chair. Obviously, this is of advantage to a one-armed person, or to any other person having use of one hand only. In placing the cover back on the box it is of course essential to lower or retire the slide member 14, and this may be accomplished by one hand also, either by turning the box r0- tarily, or by merely holding the box edgewise for aninstant to permit the said member to drop by gravity into the desired retired position.

hat I claim is:

A circular container having a removable cover with an outwardly projecting bead about its bottom portion, in combination with the body of the container and a lift mechanism on one side of said body for said cover comprising a plate curved lengthwise to conform to the curvature of the container and having upwardly extending portions at its ends and edge adapted to bear against said annular bead and provided with an outa In testimony whereof I aflix my signature wardly extending finger grip at one end and in presence of two witnesses. a diagonally disposed slot, and a stud rivet GEORGE G. SCHUELE. through said slot engaging said plate slid- Witnesses:

5 ably on said body and having a s uare shank E. M. FISHER,

in said slot to prevent rotation 0 said plate. F. C. MUSSUN. 

